Process of cleaning and amalgamating ores



(N0 MocleL) O. E. SEYMOUR. PROCESS OF CLEANING AND AMALGAMATING 035s.

No. 511,864; Patented Jan. 2, 1894.

Unirrsn STATES [PATENT @rrrcn.

CHARLES E. SEYMOUR, OF LAKE GENEVA, VISOONSIN.

PROCESS OF CLEANING AND AMALGAMATlNG ()RES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,864, dated January2, 1894.

Application filed January 31,1893. Serial No, 460,419. (No specimens.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. SEYMOUR, of Lake Geneva, in the county ofWalworth and State of iVisconsin, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Means for and Processes of Cleaning and AmalgamatingOres, of which the following is a description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

M y process and device relate to cleaning or scouring and polishing oresin a pulverized state, to increase the amalgamating affinity of themineral particles, and includes the process and means for amalgamatingsome of the metallic particles in connection with the cleaningoperation. Some kinds of pulverizing mineral bearing ores do not intheir crude state or when they are dull or coated, readily amalgamatewith mercury, and this is especially true of that class of gold orescommonly known as rusty ore. If this grade or class of ore is polishedor cleaned so that the particles of mineral capable of amalgamation, arefreed of enveloping or coating foreign material so as to present a cleanbright surface to the direct action of mercury, an amalgamation isreadily accomplished.

My invention relates to a method of cleaning or polishing mineral oresand amalgamating some of the mineral therein, and therewith, toproviding mechanism adapted to assist in the cleaning or polishing ofthe ores for the process of amalgamation either therewith orindependently thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is an elevation of the improved mechanismembraced in my invention, parts being broken away and other parts shownin section for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2, is an elevation of amodifled form of the polishing blocks, parts being broken away forshowing interior construction.

In the drawings, A is a frame of suitable form for supporting theoperative mechanism. The frame is conveniently formed with four posts Athe one at the front of Fig. 1 being omitted for convenience ofillustration. Cross beams B 13' secured rigidly to each other at theirmedial junction, rest at their extremities on the four posts. The crossbeam B is hinged at its extremity C to one of the posts, and its otherextremity rests on the opposite post. These cross beams are also securedto the posts releasably by bolts D D.

A portion of the mechanism hereinafter-described issupported directly onthe sill and posts of the frame A, and other portions of the operativemechanism are suspended from and mounted on the cross beams B B. By thisconstruction the mechanism supported on the cross beams B and B may,when desired, be lifted away from the mechanism supported directly onthe frame.

The material used for the polishing blocks in my machine may be of metalor less dense material, but I advise and preferably use the ends ofblocks of wood. in the machine illus trated a cylindrical block of woodor muller 3, is mounted on a disk 4, which disk is provided with a hub5, and a rigid arbor indicated by dotted lines (3, in Fig. 1. The hub 5rests on the support 7, and the arbor 6 has revolnble bearing in thesupport 7, and is stepped in the box 8, fixedon the sill of the frame.The disk t is provided with a peripheral upwardly extending rim 9 inwhich the block 3 is fitted, and the block is secured therein by holdingscrews 10, through the rim turning into the block. The block 3 ishollowed out in its upper surface forming a central chamber therein ofinverted frustoconical form, and a central aperture 11 extending fromthe frustoconical chamber downwardly to the disk 4.. A metal cup 12,having substantially the diameter of the aperture 11, is secured in theaperture conveniently by screws. The bottom of the cup is preferably ata little distance above the disk 4. A rubber gasket 13, interposedbetween the cup 12 and the surrounding block, makes the joint watertight. A flat ring 14: prefer ably of rubber secured permanently to thetop of the block 3 about its chamber projects laterally beyond the blockand forms a rim adapted to carry material discharged centrifugally overthe top of the block, into the annular encompassing trough 15. Thetrough 15 is bolted to the posts A and is provided with a dischargingorifice 16. A trough 17 is adapted to catch the materialdischarged fromthe trough 15 andconduct it therefrom. A sprocket chain 18 running on awheel fast on shaft E, is adapted to transmit motion from the drivingshaft to the revoluble block 3. The driving shaft E is driven by asuitable belt (not shown) running on the pulley F fast on the drivingshaft. That portion of the operative mechanism thus far described issupported directly'on the frame A or its posts A.

Above the block 3, and complementary to it, is located the non-revolubleblock 20, also preferably of wood. This block 3 is movable vertically onthe hangers 21 depending rigidly from the cross beam B. The hangers areprovided with guides 22 which fit movably in ways therefor in bearingblocks secured permanently to the block 20.- The lower end of the block20 is frusto-conical in form. The conical wall of the block iscomplemented by the reversely conical Wall of the chamber in the block 3and ores or other material forced or inserted between these blocks isrubbed or polished by the revolution of the block 3 against the block20. The block 20 is mounted rigidly on a hollow shaft 23, which extendsupwardly therefrom passing centrally through the cross beams Band B inwhich it is mounted, movable vertically, on the springs 24 and 25respectively. The spring 25 is interposed between a hub 26 fixed on theblock 20 and an adjusting screw threaded collar 27 turning into ajournal box fixed in the cross beams B B. By means of this adjustingcollar and the spring 25, the extent of the pressure of the block 20against the block 3, or interposed material, may be increased ordiminished as desired. The spring 24tis interposed between the box 28fixed in the cross beams and the base or hub of the hopper 29 whichforms the upper extremity of the shaft 23. The hollow shaft 23 whichextends to the bottom of the block 20 forms also a conduit or pumpbarrel for the delivery of material, especially pulp, to the polishingblocks. In those localities where the shaft 23 can be extended to asufficient height, no other force will be required for delivering-thepulp to the polishing blocks than the weight of the column of materialinthe shaft, but as this condition is rarely found, the shaft is convertedinto a force pump by means of the piston 30 having a downwardly openingvalve, and an upwardly extending stem 31. The pump is convenientlyoperated by connecting the stem 31 to a lever arm 32 medially, the leverarm being pivoted at one extremity to an upright 33 fixed on the beam B,and at the other extremity being connected by a link 34 to the wrist ofa crank 35 on the shaft 36 provided with a pinion gearing with thepinion l9 fixed on the driving shaft. The oscillating arm 32 isconnected to the link 34 by aball and socket or universal joint 37, andthe shaft 36 is journaled in boxes therefor fixed on the cross beam B.

A pipe 38 for supplying pulp to the pump, is provided with a flexiblesection 39, so that its discharging end may be raised or turned to oneside. A pipe leading through the block 20, and discharging at theconical surface thereof, is adapted to deliver steam, ora gas, adaptedto act on the material being polished between the blocks, either for thepurpose of assisting in the cleaning of the material mechanically orchemically,as'by the heat of the steam or the action of the gas. Thispipe is also provided with a flexible section 41, which permits it tobend to accommodate the movement produced by the raising of the crossbeams and the mechanism thereon suspended.

In the modified form of device shown in Fig. 2, there is a block 3',havingaflat upper surface, but otherwise similar in construction andmethod of support to the block 3. Also there is a block 20 having a Hatlower surface, complementary to the fiat upper surface of the block 3,and in other respects of similar construction and supported in a similarmanner as the block 20.

The method of using this machinein polishing and scouring amalgamatingmineral hearing ores, is substantially as follows: A supply of mercury Mis placed in the cup 12,-and suitable ores with water, in the form ofpulp, are delivered to the pump through 38, the pump being actuated inthe manner described by the rotation of the driving shaft, to force thepulp into the space between the conical surfaces of the blocks 20 and 3.By the rapid rotation of the block 3 the particles of ore are rubbed andpolished between the blocks, and at the same time and by the same motionthe water, the pulverized material and the ores, are by centrifugalaction carried over the top of the block 3 into the trough 15. So muchof the cleaned or more purely mineral particles as comes in contact withthe mercury in the cup, will be absorbed and amalgamated thereby. WVithsome qualities of ores this cleaning process may be aided by forcingsteam through the pipe 40 on to the material being polished, therebysoftening or disintegrating soluble material adhering to the ores, andin other cases gases adapted to attack matter coating the ore, may beforced through this pipe on to the material between the blocks and thusaid the process of cleaning the ore.

The cup 12 may be emptied from time to time by raising the cross beams Band B and thus lifting the block 20 away from the block 3 so that thecup is made readily accessible, and it may be removed from its seat inblock 3, if desired for this purpose.

I purpose to use this machine with an amalgamating system, the scouredor polished ma terial discharged from this machine being delivered fromthe trough 15 directly into an amalgamator, but should it be founddesirthe pipe able the ore discharged from a single machine of thiskind, may be led by the trough 17 to a second machine similar to the onehere shown, and the material from this second machine may in turn beconducted to a third machine, thus establishing a series of machines ofthe same character to accomplish the complete and perfect cleaning ofthe ores.

In carrying out the process that involves my invention,it is notnecessary that the specific mechanism herein before described in all itsdetails, should be used, although I have described mechanism that ispreferably used for the purpose. However, it is not absolutely essentialthat a pump of the character herein described, should beused, for thepurpose of delivering the pulp to and forcing it between the polishingblocks, as any other form of pump might be used instead, and even acolumn of the pulp of sufficient height would be a satisfactory means ofaccomplishing the same results. Also the securing or polishing surfacesmay be of other material than wood,though blocks constructed of wood,the ends or grain" of which are made to abut and rub on each other, areconsidered better than any other material for this purpose.

It will not be frequent that the mineral bearing ores that have beenscoured or polished by my machine and that are thrown off radially,should be run through another machine of the same form, but such oresmay usually be treated by any amalgamating process or concentrated inany other manner, as by means of machines heretofore patented by me forsuch purpose.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The process of treating mineral ores, consisting in the forcingpulverized ores orpulp by means of other than gravity between rubbingsurfaces and thus subjecting them to a polishing action, and at the sametime discharging steam or gas between the rubbing surfaces and intocontact with the ores being polished, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ore scouring or polishing machine, the combination of arevolving block or muller a complementary non-rotating block, and meansother than gravity for forcing pulp between the blocks whereby theparticles are polished and forcibly ejected radially, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an ore polishing machine, the combination of a superiorfrusto-conical non-revolving block, an inferior revolving muller havingan upward enlarging frusto-conical chamber complementary to the conicalsurface of the non-revolving block, and means other than gravity forforcing pulp between the blocks from their centers outward radially andupwardly and discharging the larger portion of it therefrom beyond thecircumference of the blocks, substantially as described.

4:. In an ore scouring or polishing machine,

the combination of rubbing blocks constructed of wood having opposingrubbing or polishing faces formed by the abutting of the ends of grainof the wood, substantially as set forth.

5. In a polishing machine, the combination of polishing blocks one abovethe other the ends of which abut forming polishing surfaces, means fordelivering ores under pressure to the polishing surfaces centrally, aflange projecting substantiallyhorizontally from the upper end of theinferior revolving block, and an annular trough about the block adaptedto catch the material discharged from the an nular flange, substantiallyas described.

6. In an ore machine of the character described, the combination withtwo polishing blocks one above the other the ends of which abut formingcentrally depressed polishing faces, of a cup secured to the inferiorrevoluble block in a central aperture therefor, for holding mercury foramalgam ating purposes, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a machine of the character described, of aninferior revoluble block or muller, a superior complementary andnonrevoluble block, an upwardly extending shaft or central stemsuspended yieldingly loose in a fixed bearing, on which shaft thesuperior block is fixed and thereby partially supported, and fixedguides having ways in said superior block whereby vertical movement. ispermitted to said block, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a machine of the character described, of aninferior revoluble block or muller, a superior complementaryend-abutting non-revoluble block, a hollow shaft fixed centrally in thesuperior block, which shaft opens at the lower end of the block andextends above the block, a downwardly forcing piston in the shaft, andmeans for actuating the piston, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with thepiston of a pulp forcing pump, of an oscillating lever 32, a link 34 anda shaft 36 geared to the driving shaft and having a crank 35 to thewrist of which the link 3a is connected, as and for the purpose setforth.

10. The combination in a machine of the character described havingabutting polishing blocks, of a revoluble but vertically fixed inferiorblock, a superior non-revoluble block, a shaft fixed in the superiorblock which shaft has bearings and vertical movement in a relativelyfixed support, springs interposed between collars on the shaft and afixed support whereby the superior block is suspended yieldingly, andmeans for adjusting the ten= sion of one of said springs, whereby thepressure of the superior block against the inforior block or interposedmaterial, is made less or greater, substantially as described.

11, In an ore polishing machine the con1= bination of an inferior blockor muller mounted revolubly on the main frame, which block is providedwith an inverted frusto-conical chamber and a central downwardlyextending aperture, and an amalgam cup secured to the block in saidaperture, of a superior block having a frusto-conical end complementaryto the frusto-conical chamber in the block, a hinged and swinging beamon which the superior block and related mechanism are mount- 1 ed, thebeam being so hinged as to permit the lifting of the beam and thereby ofthe raising of the superior block out of the frusto-conical chamber ofthe inferior block, as and for the purposes set forth. y

In testimony whereoflaffix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHAS. E. SEYMOUR.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. FRENCH, OHS. S. ROSENBERG.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 511,864, grantedJanuary 2, 1894, upon the application of Charles E. Seymour, of LakeGeneva, Wisconsin, for an improvement in Processes of Cleaning andAmalgamating Ores, errors appear in the printed specification requiringcorrection, as follows: In line 40, page 3, the Word the should bestricken out; and in line 41, same page, the Word of should be strickenout; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofifice.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 6th day of February, 1894.

JNO. M. REYNOLDS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[sEAL] Countersigned JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Omnmissionei' of Patents.

